Air quality in Gijón/Xixón has been deemed very poor, according to official data published on the Government of Asturias website. The levels of PM10 particles recorded at the Lauredal air quality monitoring station reached 140 µg/m³, while the Calzada station reported 104 µg/m³. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that annual average levels should not exceed 15 µg/m³ and daily averages should remain below 45 µg/m³. Furthermore, the European Directive 2024/2881 sets an annual average limit of 20 µg/m³.
Last year, Gijón exceeded pollution thresholds on 59 days. Additionally, elevated benzene levels were recorded, reaching 10.3 µg/m³ at the Lauredal monitoring station. The WHO warns against any exposure to benzene due to its high cancer risk, while the European Directive 2024/2881 establishes a limit of 3.4 µg/m³ for annual averages.
The Gijón City Council had previously committed to regulating peaks of this pollutant, yet no measures have been implemented to date. The Coordinadora Ecoloxista has called for a review of Gijón/Xixón's air quality plan, a request that has not been addressed by the regional government.
According to Royal Decree 34/2023, competent authorities are required to take urgent measures and inform the public when alert thresholds are exceeded, a responsibility that both the regional government and the city council have failed to fulfil. The extensive research demonstrating the impact of environmental pollution on health and quality of life cannot be overlooked by a leadership that remains inactive, endangering the population. The failure to address this public health issue is inexcusable.
